Enchanted

November 10, 2005. Black ink and acrylic paints on ivory parchment. 8.5 x 11 inches. A fierce dragon forms the upright and cross-pieces of the letter E. My classical wizard - my current favorite design - appears inside the upright of the letter. Enother dragon forms a part of the decorative vinework, in imitation of many medieval manuscripts. The dragons on my illuminations are considerably updated, compared with period dragons, by the way. Many period dragons appearing in the structure of letters or vinework look a bit like peacocks with wolves' heads, and are often bipedal. Most of my dragons are a bit more modernly dragonic, and most are quadrupedal, when I show their full bodies. This is based loosely on illuminated capitals found in many religious texts in the 12th century. Many thanks to Monica and her boyfriend for fixing the warping in this scan! Parchment is a bit fragile, and warped significantly under the weight of the paint, causing terrible shadows that I'm pleased to be rid of.